The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 10:2 Explained

2 Corinthians 10:2

KJV: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

YLT: and I beseech you, that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

Darby: but I beseech that present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I think to be daring towards some who think of us as walking according to flesh.

ASV: yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  I beseech  [you], that I may not  be bold  when I am present  with that confidence,  wherewith  I think  to be bold  against  some,  which  think  of us  as  if we walked  according  to the flesh. 

What does 2 Corinthians 10:2 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 10:1-7 - Mighty With Spiritual Weapons
Paul here makes his defense. Some who resisted his authority spoke disparagingly of his weak body and uneloquent speech. Why should they yield so absolute a submission to his words? Others suggested that he was little better than a schemer for his own ends, and that he walked after worldly maxims, 2 Corinthians 10:2. There is considerable comfort to others who are placed in the driving storm of adverse criticism, to know that this great saint passed by the same road. Be of good cheer, comrade, if you are misunderstood and maligned! It is best to leave these reproaches with your Lord. He will shield and vindicate you. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn," Isaiah 54:17.
In reply Paul quotes the spiritual results that have accrued from his ministry, and argues that they attest the purity and spirituality of his methods. He could not have attained to such great usefulness, if his motives had been those which his enemies imputed. What a lesson 2 Corinthians 10:4 contains! In the gospel there are weapons which no human reasonings or workings can withstand; but we too often trust carnal methods, and do not avail ourselves of this invincible panoply. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 10

1  Against the false apostles, who disgraced the weakness of his person and bodily presence,
4  he shows the spiritual might and authority with which he was armed against all adverse powers;
7  assuring those who at his coming he will be found as mighty in word as he is now in writing;
12  and encouraging them to reach out themselves beyond their compass

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 10:2

I beseech [δεομαι]
So here, but παρακαλω — parakalō in 2 Corinthians 10:1. Perhaps, “I beg” suits the new turn here. [source]
That I may not when present show courage [το μη παρων ταρρησαι]
Articular infinitive (aorist active of ταρρεω — tharreō) in the accusative case with negative μη — mē the direct object of δεομαι — deomai Literally, “I beg the not when present As if we walked according to the flesh (ως κατα σαρκα περιπατουντας — hōs kata sarka peripatountas). Another sneering charge as made plain by the use of ως — hōs with the participle for the alleged reason. [source]
As if we walked according to the flesh [ως κατα σαρκα περιπατουντας]
Another sneering charge as made plain by the use of ως — hōs with the participle for the alleged reason. [source]
But I beseech you [δέομαι δὲ]
In 2 Corinthians 10:1, παρακαλῶ is used for beseech. It is doubtful whether the two words can be strictly distinguished as indicating different degrees of feeling. It may be said that δέομαι and its kindred noun δέησις are frequently used of prayer to God, while παρακαλῶ occurs only twice in this sense, Matthew 26:53; 2 Corinthians 12:8. On the other hand, παρακαλῶ is used of God's pleading with men, while in the same passage δέομαι is used of men's entreating men; 2 Corinthians 5:20. Rev., in 2 Corinthians 10:1, renders entreat, which, according to older English usage, is the stronger word, meaning to prevail by entreaty, just as persuade, which originally meant to use persuasion, now signifies to prevail by persuasion. The construction of the passage is difficult. Literally it is: I pray the not showing courage when present, with the confidence, etc. The sense is: I pray you that you may not make it necessary for me to show, when I am present, that official peremptoriness which I am minded to show against those who charge me with unworthy motives. [source]
May not be bold - think to be bold [θαῤῥῆσαι - τολμῆσαι]
The A.V. thus misses the distinction between the two verbs. The former signifies to be stout-hearted or resolutely confident in view of one's conscious strength or capacity; the latter, to carry this feeling into action; to dare. The distinction is not easy to represent by single English words. It might be approximately given by brave and bold, though, in common usage, this distinction practically disappears. Θαῤῥῆσαι does not so much emphasize fearlessness as the tore positive quality of cheerful confidence in the presence of difficulty and danger, the sense which appears in the earlier usage of brave as gay (see the various uses in Shakespeare). Hence Rev. is on the right line in the use of courage, from cor heart, through the French coeur. Rev. renders, show courage - be bold. In classical Greek, the kindred noun θάρσος is sometimes, though not often, used in a bad sense, audacity, as in Homer, where Minerva is rebuking Mars for exciting strife among the gods with stormy or furious courage ( θάρσος ἄητον “Iliad,” xxi., 395). So the reckless daring of Hector is described θάρσος μυίης theeffrontery of a fly (“Iliad,” xvii., 570). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 10:2

Romans 10:20 Is very bold [ἀποτολμᾷ]
Only here in the New Testament. Plato, “Laws,” 701, uses it of liberty as too presumptuous ( ἀποτετολμημένης ). The force of the preposition is intensive, or possibly pointing to him from whom the action proceeds; bold of himself: The simple verb means primarily to dare, and implies the manifestation of that boldness or confidence of character which is expressed by θαῤῥέω . See 2 Corinthians 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 7:16; 2 Corinthians 10:2, note. [source]
2 Corinthians 10:3 We war [στρατευομετα]
Literary plural again after λογιζομαι — logizomai in 2 Corinthians 10:2. Old word to lead an army In N.T. only in the middle as here. Paul admits that he fights, but only the devil and his agents even if wearing the livery of heaven. Paul knew the Roman army well. He knows how to use the military metaphor. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:21 As though [ως οτι]
Presented as the charge of another. “They more than tolerate those who trample on them while they criticize as ‹weak‘ one who shows them great consideration” (Plummer). After these prolonged explanations Paul “changes his tone from irony to direct and masterful assertion” (Bernard). I am bold also (τολμω καγω — tolmō kagō). Real courage. Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:2, 2 Corinthians 10:12. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:21 I am bold also [τολμω καγω]
Real courage. Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:2, 2 Corinthians 10:12. [source]
Philippians 1:14 Are much more bold [περισσοτέρως τολμᾶν]
Rev., more abundantly bold, thus holding more closely to the literal meaning of the adverb. For are bold, see on 2 Corinthians 10:2. The boldness required to profess Christ within the precincts of the palace is illustrated by the graffito or wall-scribble discovered in 1857 among the ruins on the Palatine. It is a caricature of Christ on the cross, with an ass's head, while on the left appears a christian youth in an attitude of adoration. Underneath are scrawled the words Alexamenos worships God. [source]
2 John 1:6 After His commandments [κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ]
For walk, with κατά afteraccording to, see Mark 7:5; Romans 8:4; Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 10:2. Very often with ἐν inSee John 8:12; John 11:9, John 11:10; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 John 1:7, 1 John 1:10. Both constructions are found 2 Corinthians 10:2, 2 Corinthians 10:3. [source]
2 John 1:6 That we should walk [ινα περιπατωμεν]
Object clause in nominative case in apposition with αγαπη — agapē with ινα — hina and the present active subjunctive of περιπατεω — peripateō “that we keep on walking.”The commandment (η εντολη — hē entolē). The one just mentioned with the same construction with ινα — hina as in 1 John 3:23. John changes from the first person plural to the second (ηκουσατε — ēkousate as in 1 John 2:7, περιπατητε — peripatēte) as in 1 John 2:5, 1 John 2:7.In it Either to αλητειαι — alētheiāi (truth) of 2 John 1:4, αγαπη — agapē of this verse, or εντολη — entolē of this verse. Either makes good sense, probably “in love.” With περιπατεω — peripateō (walk) we have often εν — en (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:11, etc.) or κατα — kata (according to) as in Mark 7:5; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 10:2, etc. [source]
2 John 1:6 In it [εν αυτηι]
Either to αλητειαι — alētheiāi (truth) of 2 John 1:4, αγαπη — agapē of this verse, or εντολη — entolē of this verse. Either makes good sense, probably “in love.” With περιπατεω — peripateō (walk) we have often εν — en (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:11, etc.) or κατα — kata (according to) as in Mark 7:5; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 10:2, etc. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 10:2 mean?

I implore [you] now that not being present to be bold with the confidence with which I reckon to be daring toward some - reckoning us as according to flesh walking
δέομαι δὲ τὸ μὴ παρὼν θαρρῆσαι τῇ πεποιθήσει λογίζομαι τολμῆσαι ἐπί τινας τοὺς λογιζομένους ἡμᾶς ὡς κατὰ σάρκα περιπατοῦντας

δέομαι  I  implore  [you] 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: δέομαι  
Sense: to want, lack.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τὸ  that 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παρὼν  being  present 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πάρειμι  
Sense: to be by, be at hand, to have arrived, to be present.
θαρρῆσαι  to  be  bold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: θαρρέω  
Sense: to be of good courage, be of good cheer.
τῇ  with  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πεποιθήσει  confidence 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: πεποίθησις  
Sense: trust, confidence, reliance.
  with  which 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
λογίζομαι  I  reckon 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: λογίζομαι  
Sense: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over.
τολμῆσαι  to  be  daring 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: τολμάω  
Sense: not to dread or shun through fear.
ἐπί  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
τινας  some 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
τοὺς  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
λογιζομένους  reckoning 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: λογίζομαι  
Sense: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over.
ἡμᾶς  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
κατὰ  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
σάρκα  flesh 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: σάρξ  
Sense: flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts.
περιπατοῦντας  walking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: περιπατέω  
Sense: to walk.